Heavy racquets causing arm discomfort?

[tlm]

I should be able to express an opinion without these childish assaults from you. By the way, I think you use a SW over 320 now and did I see you post that you used over 330 awhile back.

MY OPINION is SW is critical to racket performance and 320+ is quite easy to handle without getting tired.

You use Verdasco as an example but if you look at a bell curve of pro specs anything with a swing weight below 330 on the ATP is at the extreme low end of the curve. Just like anything over 400 grams is at the other extreme high end of the curve. I do not think recreational players should play pro level specs unless they are very fit and strong but there are more pros with SW over 350 than under 320 by a very, very wide margin.

How the hell can you tell how I initialize my swing from this post? Let's see, you can tell how I swing based on what I wrote. Maybe the fact that I say taking a relaxed accelerating swing with a decent swing weight is the best way to generate power allows you to make your assumptions about how I play. I understand swing mechanics at least reasonably well and practice and strive to use good modern technique. Taking a relaxed smooth swing leads to improved swing speed and not muscling the ball as you again assumed I do.

By the way, your signature Power Player is a bit presumptuous. Are you a self rated PowerPlayer or are you a certified rated PowerPlayer? Is your power generated from your hips and core, or your rather inflated ego, or are you compensating for your lack of real ego? Maybe you should change your signature to Know It All Ass-umer of Everything Power Player.

By the way, sometimes you write things that I don't agree with but I don't attack your ideas. Here's something to ponder - MY OPINION IS AS VALID AS YOURS.

I apologize to other members for my rant but the PP guy is a bit much sometimes.

Relax PP is not a bad guy, i got into it with him a year ago and we went at it pretty good. But then we both settled it with no big deal and he seems like he knows what he is talking about.

He makes a lot of good points on this site and i agree with him most of the time. I just think that he is really into the game and passionate about what he has learned, maybe he comes on a little strong sometimes but no more than a lot of the posters here. He reminds me a lot of myself and a lot of my friends, we go at it pretty strong sometimes but try not to get out of control or hold grudges.

 

[TaihtDuhShaat]

10 Chardys

 

[Power Player]

.

I believe tennis is a total subjective experience...(watch the videos and see how TW staff racquet reviews don't report the same experience on the same gear they playtest) Hopefully because otherwise it would be quite boring

I agree. It is a journey to figure out what works for you and there are no real rules to it. That's why I always say that because it sucks for people to come on here and read something that may not suit them at all yet they may think in their head that it is supposed to since they read it. Let's not forget how the game has changed rather fast, but you can still win using old school technique as well.

I see guys handle heavy pace with head crossbows. Guys hitting lasers with 12.5 ounces. There is just no real definition of what works outside of personal preference and hitting style.

And thanks Tlm.

 

[bad_call]

I agree. It is a journey to figure out what works for you and there are no real rules to it. That's why I always say that because it sucks for people to come on here and read something that may not suit them at all yet they may think in their head that it is supposed to since they read it. Let's not forget how the game has changed rather fast, but you can still win using old school technique as well.

I see guys handle heavy pace with head crossbows. Guys hitting lasers with 12.5 ounces. There is just no real definition of what works outside of personal preference and hitting style.

And thanks Tlm.

having hit with PP and observed his progress think he's doing fine in racquet selection. it's about results, comfort, confidence, etc.

 

[LeeD]

Gotta use what works for you.
Best to, before giving advice, always trying different rackets of different characteristics, but GET USED TO THEM, before going back.

 

[kaiser]

Just to clarify.
YOUR coach is a woman? And she tells you how to swing a heavy racket?
And you apply this advice for every other player?
And regardless of age, physical condition, personal preferences, and style?
Just to clarify.

Yep, former Belgian Fed Cup and WTA player.

And just to clarify: where did I apply "this advice" (what advice..?) "for every other player ... regardless of age, physical condition, personal preferences, and style"? You're putting your own words in other people's mouths, Lee, and that is not a nice thing to do.

 

[tlm]

I think that PP is right when you use a modern swing with a lot of whip the heavy racket can be a detriment. I have been using an asian blx 90 that weighs right at 12 ounces, and it plays pretty good but the weight is getting hard on my shoulder.

I was using a donnay silver light that weighed 11.3 ounces and had no problems with my shoulder. Plus i notice that after an hour or so the 12 ounce racket gets harder to whip with a lot of RHS. So i think a lot of players that like to really whip a lot of spin on the ball would be better with 11-11-6 ounce racket.

 

[kaiser]

Yes it works with any weight. Boils down to your preference. Also keeps you from tiring yourself too fast.

Absolutely agree.

PP, if I recall correctly, you had some wrist problems a while back. I'm also experiencing some discomfort on the lateral side of my wrist lately, at some point I even had to take a short break from tennis. It's nothing serious (yet...) but I'd be interested to hear your story. What were the specifics of your problem, what caused it and how did your cure it?

 

[Power Player]

Absolutely agree.

PP, if I recall correctly, you had some wrist problems a while back. I'm also experiencing some discomfort on the lateral side of my wrist lately, at some point I even had to take a short break from tennis. It's nothing serious (yet...) but I'd be interested to hear your story. What were the specifics of your problem, what caused it and how did your cure it?

Kaiser, great question, it got pretty complicated to be honest. I think it is a combo of a biking injury I had (that's healed now) plus weightlifting plus tennis. I also was pronating wrong on serve so that would make things worse and I couldnt heal. I fixed that as well...but it took some time.

I definitely thought I'd have to use comfort sticks forever so I used the Donnay Platinum (Great racquet but turned out to vibrate too much and irritated me) PK7g and the Prince EXO 100. They are both really good but didn't suit my game enough so that was frustrating.

Switching away from closed patterns was my next move and that helped a lot. I got to the point where I was able to ditch the Prince and go to a stiff wilson with no issue, and now I have settled in with a Babolat.

A few tips that really helped me:

Use a lighter racquet. Wrist injuries suck with heavy sticks unless you have a slow swing and hit flat. I don't.

Avoid full poly. Full poly is no good. Even Iontec, which is super soft may still not be enough for me to use more than now and then.

If you notice pain, switch to gut mains. I was feeling some soreness all around with my 6.1 so I switched to gut mains and it went away. I decided the heavy weight was not worth risking my wrist so I went back to tweeners. The 6.1 never bothered my wrist, but it just made my arm a little sore so I instantly switched strings and that was the key.

Make sure your technique is proper. I had to go see a few pros and fix my serve and then groove the new serve in over and over. It is still a work in progress, but my double faults are going way down.

 

[sportsfan1]

.....
A few tips that really helped me:

Use a lighter racquet. Wrist injuries suck with heavy sticks unless you have a slow swing and hit flat. I don't.

....

PP, thanks for listing the tips. I am interested in the details of this as I am contemplating using a lighter racquet. What weight range would you suggest for the lighter racquet?

 

[Power Player]

The racquet in your sig to me is lighter. Those are nice specs to me.

But if you wanted less, I'd suggest the new Wilson 6.1 Team and the new Wilson BLX Tour. Racquets in that range may work for you. Just a hair lighter. It really is a personal thing..but you could try a real light stick just to see what is the lightest you can go with.

A lot of people say go as heavy as you can, but I prefer the opposite approach.

 

[sportsfan1]

The sig is outdated, have been using a Volkl PB 10 MP (12 oz/7 pts HL) nowadays. yeah, I do understand it's a personal thing and opinions vary, but I am too busy/lazy to demo , so I am always interested in opinions and experiences on this from folks. thanks for the recommendation

 

[kaiser]

Kaiser, great question, it got pretty complicated to be honest. I think it is a combo of a biking injury I had (that's healed now) plus weightlifting plus tennis. I also was pronating wrong on serve so that would make things worse and I couldnt heal. I fixed that as well...but it took some time.

I definitely thought I'd have to use comfort sticks forever so I used the Donnay Platinum (Great racquet but turned out to vibrate too much and irritated me) PK7g and the Prince EXO 100. They are both really good but didn't suit my game enough so that was frustrating.

Switching away from closed patterns was my next move and that helped a lot. I got to the point where I was able to ditch the Prince and go to a stiff wilson with no issue, and now I have settled in with a Babolat.

A few tips that really helped me:

Use a lighter racquet. Wrist injuries suck with heavy sticks unless you have a slow swing and hit flat. I don't.

Avoid full poly. Full poly is no good. Even Iontec, which is super soft may still not be enough for me to use more than now and then.

If you notice pain, switch to gut mains. I was feeling some soreness all around with my 6.1 so I switched to gut mains and it went away. I decided the heavy weight was not worth risking my wrist so I went back to tweeners. The 6.1 never bothered my wrist, but it just made my arm a little sore so I instantly switched strings and that was the key.

Make sure your technique is proper. I had to go see a few pros and fix my serve and then groove the new serve in over and over. It is still a work in progress, but my double faults are going way down.

Not sure if it was that great a question, but this certainly is a great answer, thanks!

I prefer my rackets on the heavy side and I love my 4D 200 Tours. Moreover, I have been playing with full poly for the past 15 years, but for the past year at very low (sub-40) tensions which certainly helps on the comfort side. In short, most of your tips would mean a big change for me and I'm not sure I'm ready for that (yet..?). It's been very busy at work lately and I have spent far too much time behind my computer than is good for me. So when I that's behind me and I can find some more time to work out my wrist problem may sort itself out without such drastic measures as changing my racket...

I might consider getting a backup for bad-wrist days, I've been reading here that some folks do this. What would be your take on that?

 

[bad_call]

Not sure if it was that great a question, but this certainly is a great answer, thanks!

I prefer my rackets on the heavy side and I love my 4D 200 Tours. Moreover, I have been playing with full poly for the past 15 years, but for the past year at very low (sub-40) tensions which certainly helps on the comfort side. In short, most of your tips would mean a big change for me and I'm not sure I'm ready for that (yet..?). It's been very busy at work lately and I have spent far too much time behind my computer than is good for me. So when I that's behind me and I can find some more time to work out my wrist problem may sort itself out without such drastic measures as changing my racket...

I might consider getting a backup for bad-wrist days, I've been reading here that some folks do this. What would be your take on that?

worth a go imo. tried the sw fh (long time eastern fh here) using the leaded (~350g) 4D 100 and surprised how nice it felt. however think it might tax my brain in the heat of battle figuring which fh grip to use (efh or swfh) for any given fh stroke. :lol:

 

[Power Player]

Not sure if it was that great a question, but this certainly is a great answer, thanks!

I prefer my rackets on the heavy side and I love my 4D 200 Tours. Moreover, I have been playing with full poly for the past 15 years, but for the past year at very low (sub-40) tensions which certainly helps on the comfort side. In short, most of your tips would mean a big change for me and I'm not sure I'm ready for that (yet..?). It's been very busy at work lately and I have spent far too much time behind my computer than is good for me. So when I that's behind me and I can find some more time to work out my wrist problem may sort itself out without such drastic measures as changing my racket...

I might consider getting a backup for bad-wrist days, I've been reading here that some folks do this. What would be your take on that?

It just matters how bad the wrist pain gets. I mean it got to the point where when the ball hit the strings my wrist was in shooting pain. At that point you take a 2-3 month break from the game. Your body will tell you the racquet is too heavy as well..it is pretty subjective, but just use whatever is easiest on you.